The Strongest Relationship On Earth

What is the strongest relationship on earth?

I can answer it with one word: MARRIAGE :)

Why Marriage?

Because marriage is the mirror of the intimate relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church.

Marriage is the relationship that God use to reflect our relationship with Him. And it is also the first relationship that God created on earth (Adam and Eve) before the relationship between parents and children, brothers and sisters, or any other relationships.

That's why God really loves marriage, and He wants to see His children living in an intimate relationship with their husband/wife. But the problem is, the devil really really hates marriage and he wants to destroy every marriage! Last year, about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. And nearly 8 in 10 young adults in America favor same-sex marriage. My heart is broken, and I know God's heart too... :(

So today I want to challenge every married couples (especially the Christian couples) and also all of my friends who will get married soon, to see our marriage as a mission and a ministry for God. Let's build a strong and godly marriage in this world of darkness. God calls us to be the light and to be different than this world. This world needs you.. They need us to be an example and to show them the right way of marriage.

Each godly marriage can be an oasis for those who have forgotten what marriage is supposed to look like. - Gary Thomas

Some things that you can start to do today:

* For the married couples, you need to have a devotion and prayer time together with your spouse everyday. Beside that, you also need to keep having your personal time with God. Strong relationship with God is the key of a strong marriage :)

* After God, your husband/wife has to be your most important priority in your life (not your kids, parents, friends, or any other relationships). You need to always have time and communication with your spouse everyday.

* Take a short break, or maybe you can have a short getaway with your spouse (and don't let any gadgets or even your kids distract both of you). Take time together to remember again your wedding vow, or remember the first time you met each other, looking at your wedding pictures/video, holding hands, hugging, kissing and cuddling your spouse again like on your first honeymoon :)

* Don't keep any secret from your spouse. Always tell them the truth. Remember that two of you has become ONE. Make sure there is no secret password or secret chatting on your mobile phone, there is no secret bank account, there is no secret experience about your past.. Be open and you will see the difference in your marriage.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Genesis 2:24;25)

* Please delete the word "divorce" from your dictionary. And don't let the devil destroy your marriage! If your spouse has decided to divorce, use the power of prayer and ask God to heal your marriage. Don't give up on him/her!

The most sacred promise we can ever make is the promise we make to God and our spouse on our wedding day. If the wedding vows don't matter, then no promise matters. (Dave Willis)

* Serve others together. When you serve others together, your marriage is also become stronger. And also teach the younger men and women how to live in godly ways.

Your marriage is a ministry where you and your husband can work together as a team to fulfill the needs of people around you, to show hospitality, to pray for people, to show compassion, to love by reflecting Christ's love as you mirror His image. (Jennifer Smith)

* For the single/unmarried people, make a commitment to live in holiness and strong relationship with God. Be an example for others by keeping your virginity and purity, and do not live in the same-sex relationship. I know these days many people support the same-sex marriage. I love those people and I don't want to judge them. But most of all, I want them to experience the truth and be transformed by God, so they can understand how marriage is supposed to look like. Pray for them!

* Beside that, if you have a desire to get married one day, pray so that God will bring you to meet the right man/woman who also fears the Lord and you can serve God together through your marriage :)

"Lord, today I pray for every marriage, so that You will strengthen them and help them to overcome every storm. Strengthen their relationship with You and also with one another as a husband and wife. I pray so their marriage can become a blessing and an example for others. I also pray for the single people, for every young men and women out there, so they can experience Your love and truth in their lives. Raise them to become a generation that live in holiness and do not live in the standard of this world. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."